Laboratory Safety Plan for __RNA Isolation/Extraction/recovery/precipitation

*Process

/

RNA isolation /extraction/recovery/precipitation

*Hazardous Chemical/
Chemical Class / Flammable liquids-alcohol, ether, acetone poisons/ carcinogens-chloroform, corrosive-phenol.
*Hazardous Equipment / Centrifuge (See centrifuge safety in Resource Guide)
*Potential Hazards / Fire; inhalation of toxic vapors, absorption through skin, eyes, and transport of toxic substance dissolved in them into the body; poisons can increase the hazard in any fire due to inhalation of volatilized reagent; chloroform vapor is toxic and damaging to tissues, absorption through skin; phenol is corrosive and direct contact can cause serious burns, vapor is also corrosive to tissue.
*Personal Protective Equipment / Safety glasses; nitrile gloves (resistant to these materials) full-buttoned front or back closing lab coat; close toed shoes.
*Engineering and Ventilation Controls / All handling, pipetting, dilutions of these reagents must be done in a chemical fume hood; tubes containing these materials can only be removed from fume hood for vortexing or centrifuging if tightly capped; always point opened test tube or eppendorf tube away from face so as to minimize inhalation; be sure that tube cap is on securely before mixing.
Special Use Procedures
Special Handling and Storage Requirements / Avoid ignition sources such as hot plates, heat lamps or Bunsen burners; use metal tray or absorbent materials to contain any spilled solvent; never heat directly or work near a spark source; dispose of waste or used ethanol, phenol and chloroform in labeled hazardous waste containers; be sure that centrifuge and refrigerator can be used safety - that they don't generate enough of a spark to ignite reagent.
*Spill and Accident Procedures / Clean up spills only if you have the necessary materials on hand and are trained to do so. All other spills should be reported to EH&S for clean-up.
Needed: absorbent materials (vermiculite, paper towels if you have nothing else on hand) brush and dust pan, plastic bags, sealable can to contain clean up materials, protective clothing, gloves, safety glasses, and mask to cover nose and mouth if needed. For minor spills: open windows or ventilate area; if spill occurs outside hood; cover liquid with absorbent material; brush into dust pan slowly and place into plastic bag; do not breathe dust from absorbent, place all clean up materials in plastic bag, then soap and water, discarding materials as above; contact EH&S for removal of sealed container, do not place clean up materials in regular waste.
*Waste Minimization Plan / (Steps that can be added to the process to neutralize or reduce the quantity or toxicity of waste products. See the waste minimization web page for specific information.)
*Hazardous Waste Disposal
/ All waste material will be discarded through the ECU hazardous waste management system.
Decontamination Procedures
/ Not applicable
Animal Care Precautions / Not applicable
*Chemical Procurement / Check the Recy-chem page before ordering any chemical. Purchase the smallest quantity necessary.
*Revision Date / Insert ____ of ____ Lab______

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